Layers of red dust are thickly laid over Courtney boots, the dry season is well under way, it is starting to warm up, but the evenings and mornings still necessitate long pants.

The past few weeks have been very exiting having the chance to guide clients on their first buffalo hunts and seeing the exhilaration in their face when you first find the heard. The shear awe when they relies the size of not only the animals but the herd themselves.

People rarely understand the size of buffalo, and the herds can be massive. When you get yourself into one of these herds and you are looking for a specific animal, hunting becomes exceptionally exiting.

You never know if you might have to make a longer than “normal” shot with open sights or a closer than “average” shot with a scoped rifle. Staying on the top of your game is not only the PH’s job, but the clients need to do this too. One tip is practice shooting from shooting sticks from 20 metres to 100 metres. Make sure you can hit your target off hand at 50m after a short sprint so that you not panting and can keep the sight steady, this type of practice helps. Ensure that when the trophy of a life time is in sight that you can make a perfect ethical one shot kill. There are many suggested training methods and I am sure they all work. I have just mentioned what I recommend and being as fit as you can is always a good idea. Having chased Bushpigs up mountains, it is safe to say you are always better off being fitter. If you are or walking 40km a day after elephant is no easy chore. Keep this in mind when you plan your next safari.

So as we keep the safari spirit alive and keep hunting in the driest part of the year moving towards the summer months, I look forward to hunting between massive buffalo herds and dagga boys and the excitement of the chase.

Until the next camp fire…

PH, Jono Joseph